Foundation for use with soft surface formation



Aug-Z 19, 1952 FOUNDATION FOR USE WITH som SURFAOEYFORMATION Filed May 25. 1948 5 :a l! H Il f 4 Il H unen une l i: l .l .l

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ATTORNEY.

M. H. PARKS FACE FORMATION 2 SHEETS--Sl-IEET 2 INVENTOR. Mercer' PLT-)arls ATTORNEY.

Aug. 19, 1952 FOUNDATION FOR USE WITH SOFT SUR Filed may 25. 1948 1 was" PIPE ef" BEARING STRITA Patented Aug. 19, 1952 FOUNDATION FOR USE WITH SOFT SURFACE FORMATION Mercer H. Parks, Houston, Tex., assigner, by

mesne assignmentsym Standard Oil Development Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of 'Delaware Application May 25, 1948, Serial No'. 39,035

3 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with an improved apparatus and method for conducting well drilling operations in marine locations or in locations wherein semi-fluid soil or mud is found. The invention is more particularly directed to improved equipment and the method for installing, reinforcing and strengthening a foundation in soil of such consistency that regular excavation-is impractical or impossible. In accordance with a specific adaptation oi' the present invention an improved apparatus is utilized for marine operations, particularly in the recoveryof fluids such as petroleum oils and gases from such locations.

It is well known in the art to utilize various equipment and methods for recovering fluids from subterranean areas located beneath marine locations or in swamp areas. In general, the method employed is to install an overhead platform on a suitable foundation positioned in these marine locations. The platform contains the drilling rig, pumps, tubing handling and other necessary recovery equipment. However, in certain areas. particularly in areasV where semi-fluid or inconsistent soil exists above the bearing strata. difficulty is encountered in firmly positioning the foundation. The greater the area or depth of the semi-fluid above the bearing strata the moreV diiiiculty is encountered.

In accordance with the present invention it is possible to better and more firmly place the foundation elements. The apparatus comprises a movable pontoon element employed in conjunction with a hollow column element and accompanying elements. The present invention may be readily understood by reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments of the same.

Fig. l illustrates the invention wherein the apparatus has reached the mud line;

Fig. 2 illustrates the apparatus positioned just above the bearing strata;

Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus seated rmly in the bearing strata; while Fig. 4 illustrates the apparatus employed in multiple units.

The iigures will be described in lconjunction with the method of operation.

Referring specically to Fig. l, the entire apparatus is transported by any suitable means to the location wherein it is desired to position the l pontoon. The apparatus is placed beneath water line I on the mud or semi-fluid line 2. The apparatus comprises a pontoon element 3 having the cross-sectional area necessary to carry a predetermined load in a competent or semi-competent strata belovi7 the mud line. A column element 5 is attached to the top of'pontoon 3. Pontoon element 3 is tapered to form a downwardly, pointing wedge to facilitate penetration of the semifluid formation. Furthermore, the top of element 3 is formed to be part of the shoulders of an upward pointing wedge. The lower area of a conduit 4. concentrically disposed about element 5, is iiared to form a seating surface on the sloping top of pontoon 3, as described. They apparatus also contains-a pipe member E disposed withncolumn 5, extending to the bottom and through pontoon element 3. In operation, water or other suitable fluid is pumped down through pipe 6 and injected at the bottom of pontoon element 3 into the mud thus exerting a drilling 'and washing force, thus enabling pontool element 3 to sink more readily into the semi-fluid area. The pontoon is lowered by filling the area. within the pontoon with any suitable fluid, such as sea water, or solid material such as sand. gravel and the like.

Referring specifically to Fig. 2, the apparatus is illustrated as it pierces the mud or semi-fluid area. Similar numbers are utilized in Fig. 2 to illustrate similar parts referred to in Fig. 1. At this point in the operation of the apparatus the conduit 4 is held in a stationary position as the pontoon element descends through the mud area. Simultaneously as pontoon 3 moves vertically downwardly, graded sand and gravel are introduced at the top of the opening between column E and conduit 4 at a measured rate to fill the space left between the top of pontoon 3 and the seat on the bottom of conduit il. Under certain conditions it may be desirable to assist the movement of this sand and gravel through the space between the column and the conduit by injecting Water or other suitable fluid through a plurality of pipes 1. Only one of the plurality of pipes 'l is shown.

Referring speciiically to Fig. 3, the apparatus is shown positioned at the bottom of an incompetent area and seated iirmly on the bearing strata. PontoonV element 3 is positioned on the bearing strata as shown. The area between the conduit 4 and the top of the pontoon 3 is filled with a suitable material which for the purpose of illustration is taken to be sand and gravel.

Fig. 4 illustrates the invention wherein a multiplicity of the present units are utilized. The method and operation is identical when employing several units as when operating one. Similar numbers are used to designate similar elements referred to in the preceding figures. Pontoon elements 3 are shown having the Vtapered top and bottom. Casing elements 4 are likewise illustrated having a tapered seat 9 which seats on the top of tapered pontoon elements 3. Column elements 5 communicating with pontoon elements 3 are likewise shown. In accordance with this adaptation of the invention the similar apparatus elements are iirmly connected one with the other yby suitable bracing means I5.

The invention is directed toward an improved apparatus and method for firmly positioning foundation elements in semi-duid or inconsistent soil. The idea generally embraces the employment of equipment and the method for installing said equipment and strengthening the same in soil having characteristics that regular positioning of equipment is relatively diilicult or in many cases impossible. It is within the concept of the present invention to take advantage of the buoyant qualities of semi-fluid soil and utilize it in combination with its shearing or adhesive qualties to support the foundation and its useful loads. The dimensions of the various elements will vary appreciably depending upon the characteristics of the semi-fluid soil itself and the load to be supported. As pointed out, the apparatus may be used singly or in any desirable multiples and framed together by necessary members either on location or performed and carried to the location as a unit.

As discussed above, one method of installation is to transport the assembled apparatus in units or multiples and to set up these units in a vertical position. The bottom of the pontoon is allowed to rest while empty or relatively empty on the uppermost of the semi-duid strata. The conduit is then supported to prevent its moving laterally or vertically. Water or other suitable material either duid or solid is introduced through the column into the pontoon thus weighing it down and exerting its thrust downwardly through the semi-fluid soil. Under certain conditions it is desirable to pass water downwardly through the column and through the pontoon by suitable means and to eject this water from the bottom of the pontoon thus aiding the pontoon in its progress through the semi-fluid soil.

As the pontoon moves downwardly a suitable filling material which may be any desired material is passed downwardly between the column and the conduit into the space between the top of the pontoon and the lower lip of the conduit. In order to assist the movement of this solid material into the area between the lower lip of the conduit and the top of the pontoon which is produced by the lowering of the pontoon into the semi-fluid soil, water or other suitable fluid may be employed.

It is within the scope of the present invention to employ mechanical vibration of the columns or other elements to assist the semi-gravel mix to move into the space between the conduit and the pontoon.

During the sinking of the pontoon and the column element it may be necessary to apply additional loading at the top of the column and the application of such weight will constitute the first test of the foundation. When the pontoon supporting the column has been thus loaded to the predetermined value and has penetrated to a competent bearing strata or suspended in the semi-huid strata by buoying and/or friction and/or adhering qualities the column is surrounded by a continuous ring of sand and gravel introduced as hereinbefore described. Thus the semi-fluid strata is held back from contact with the column. At this point of the operation the column is reinforced longitudinally by this sand bed. The circumference of the friction area with the surrounding strata is increased in the ratio of the pontoon diameter to the column diameter. Under certain circumstances it may be necessary to further increase the capacity of the column and the foundation as a whole.

It is within the concept of the present invention to employ cement :between the top of the pontoon 3 and the bottom of the conduit. Any suitable means of positioning this cement may be utilized. For example, it is within the concept of the present invention to position the cement and gravel as described and then to perforate the column and to pass or squeeze cement slurry out through the holes in the column to impregnato the surrounding sand and gravel, thus causing the column to be encased in concrete from top'to'bottom. This still further reinforces the column laterally to where it can be more fully developed in compression and consolidates the sand and gravel to the extent that any additional friction set up around the periphery will be effective in supporting the load on the top of the column. It is within the scope of the present invention to install any desirable framework necessary to support the load on the column as positioned.

In the installation of a multiple foundation as illustrated in Fig. 4 the conduits would be attached one to another and spaced as desired by suitable framing to hold them together. Means are utilized to support them in a. vertical position so that there would :be relatively little movement between them. The pontoon elements and columns may be prefabricated in the structure as illustrated heretofore. In moving the unit to the location it is desirable that the pontoon elements be of suilicient size so that the structure can be floated to its position. After towing the structure or assembly to the desired position one or more of the pontoons are lowered as described.

Having described the invention, it is claimed:

1. Improved foundation apparatus for positioning in semi-fluid soil which comprises a hollow, cylindrical pontoon element having substantially conical sloped end surfaces, a cylindrical hollow column element of smaller diameter than said pontoon element attached to the upper end of said ypontoon and communicating therethrough with the interior of said element, a cylindricarcasing element coaxial with said hollow column, said casing element having an outwardly flared lower end adapted to seat against the upper end of said pontoon element and disposed in annularly spaced relation to said column element.

2. Apparatus as defined 'by claim 1 wherein means are disposed in the area between said column element; and said casing element for lntroducing semi-duid cementitious materials.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein pipe means are disposed within said column element extending downwardly to the bottom of said pontoon element and opening therethrough.

MERCER H. PARKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 480,127 ORourke Aug. 2, 1892 1,718,006 Reno June 18, 1929 1,892,125 Armstrong Dec 27, 1932 2,381,014 Thornley Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 816,498 France 1937 

